American Roots Music
Episode 1
1. What American Roots Music was the basis of the blues?
A. Spirituals
B. Field hollers
C. African call and response
D. Celtic folk songs
2. Where was the first American folk festival?
A. North Carolina
B. Tennessee
C. Mississippi
D. Texas
3. The result of combining European church music with African song styles
A. Was first popularized by the Fisk Jubilee Singers
B. Was first popularized by Aretha Franklin
C. Became the spiritual
D. Was taught in the American singing schools
4. Singing schools in early America taught students to read music
A. By ear
B. Using notes with different shapes
C. Using traditional notation
D. Using Do Re Mi, etc. syllables
5. What was the first popular music recorded in America?
A. Rock and roll
B. Blues
C. Country
D. Jazz
6. Who recorded the first blues song in 1920 (“Crazy Blues”)?
A. Bessie Smith
B. Mamie Smith
C. Louis Armstrong
D. Robert Johnson
7. What kicked off the country music recording industry in 1923?
A. The Brystol Sessions
B. Ralph Peer recordings of Fiddlin’ John Carson
C. The Grand Ole Opry premiere
D. Increased radio sales
8. During the Brystol Sessions, Ralph Peer found
A. The Carter Family
B. Fiddlin’ John Carson
C. Patsy Montana
D. Jimmie Rodgers
9. A.P. Carter would go on “hunting trips” to find
A. New talent
B. Something for dinner
C. Old songs
D. Venues to perform
10. Jimmie Rodgers’ singing style included
A. A rough vocal tone
B. Blues
C. Yodeling
D. Hard-driving rhythms
11. Which area was referred to as the “Cradle of the Blues”?
A. New Orleans
B. Beale Street in Memphis
C. Mississippi Delta
D. Chicago
12. Who was the blues artist who claimed to have made a pact with the devil?
A. B. B. King
B. Son House
C. Robert Johnson
D. Muddy Waters
13. Which instrument is featured in Boogie Woogie?
A. String bass
B. Drums
C. Guitar
D. Piano
14. The Great Depression caused
A. More musical groups to form
B. Record sales to plummet
C. Radio to become more popular
D. An increase in record sales
15. The Grand Ole Opry
A. Is in Memphis, Tennessee
B. Started on radio
C. Was started by Roy Acuff
D. Was started by George D. Hay
16. Uncle Dave Macon played
A. Guitar
B. Banjo
C. Tambourine
D. Fiddle
17. Who was the first black star in country music?
A. Ray Charles
B. Charlie Pride
C. Carl Ray
D. DeFord Bailey
18. Who was known as the “King of Country Music”?
A. Roy Acuff
B. Hank Williams
C. Ernest Tubb
D. Merle Haggard
19. Who was the “Father of Gospel Music”?
A. Paul Robeson
B. Thomas A. Dorsey
C. Bill Gaither
D. Jimmie Davis
20. Gospel music was the combination of which two styles?
A. Spirituals
B. Field hollers
C. Hymns
D. Blues